Apple Pay؟ ليس هنا. اليوم الثالث في قوانغتشو.

We're on our third day in Guangzhou, and we're getting used to how people pay here.

So far, we've paid at around 10 to 20 places, including restaurants and shops, as well as for Didi rides. We've seen a Visa or Mastercard sign at just one of them.

In convenience stores and at most shop counters we've visited, we haven't been able to tap a bank card. Instead, we scan a code or tap our phone to pay through Alipay or WeChat, then confirm the payment in the app.

Alipay and WeChat Pay signs at a shop counter. Photo: N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.

We'd prepared for this by linking our cards to both apps before we flew, and they've worked well for us so far. Based on our experience, we wouldn't rely on Apple Pay alone for a visit to Guangzhou.

WeChat has also proved useful for much more than messaging. It brings together chats, supplier groups, payments, bookings and contact details in one app. At the fair, people ask us to scan their QR code rather than exchange email addresses. That's why we've put a WeChat QR code on the back of our business cards.

Before travelling, we'd suggest:

1. Installing both apps and completing passport verification.
2. Linking a foreign card to each and checking the limits and fees shown in the apps.
3. Bringing physical cards as a backup, while being prepared to use the apps for everyday payments.

Paying for a meal or a taxi is different from paying a supplier. Factory deposits and final balances are paid by bank transfer, so it's important to agree the payment terms clearly. We'll write more about that soon.

Related: First days in Guangzhou: beyond the language barrier